A Maggot! Who'd have thunk it? When I started riding, the CX500 was just about the least desirable motorcycle on British roads, but 21st century fresh thinking is making virtually any bike ripe for a make-over. Of course, people have modified CXs for years, but they've all looked hideous. The Wrenchmonkees built a handsome one using loads of stocks parts (WM27, below), and now French start-up Rive Gauche Kustom has built another tasty Maggot, even with a yellow engine. Tres bon, monsieurs! G

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Ford Capris, Bay City Rollers barnets, chunky cork soled sandals, nostalgia is everything. I also love that crystal ball thing, whereby you can look at this old photo and know what that little baby doesn't - He can't yet wipe his own arse, but he will be come a bassist in a rock'n'roll band, he will (have no choice but to) love motorbikes. And in 37 years time, he will write an article about his Dad's antics as a grass-track side-car monkey for a motorcycle magazine called Sideburn. His band is called Little Barrie. They have a new album out in the here and now, today. It's called King of the Waves. They're playing at Bowery Electric in New York tonight. BPUPDATE: You can see a special recording of Little Barrie playing live on Breakthru Radio. It's good. G

We're having an intimate little bash with our Liverpudlian friends El Toro and Davida to celebrate the release of Sideburn 10.All the details are on this Maxwell Paternoster-penned flyer.There are three bands and DJs so if you want to see El Toro (and you should) don't expect to get the last bus home.See you there? GUPDATE:The amazing neo-classical location in this video, with its massive Corinthian columns, is the St Georges Hall in Liverpool. Designed by a 25-year-old architect Harvey Lonsdale Elmes. It took from 1841 to 1854 to build it. Aren't the olden days awesome? I bet the O² Arena in London is not still standing in 2170. BP

Monday, 27 February 2012

These are all images of one of my favourite humans in the world, Dave Skooter Farm, aka Mr Murdo, aka Murdo Gloves, aka Dave Arnold. Making Sideburn or doing any of the things related to the magazine like the events, show stands, road trips or racing, wouldn't be half as fun without him.

He's in two bands The Stags and The Shook-Ups, who are both playing on the same bill in Camden, London on March 10. More details when we get them.

He was also on Johnny Alpha's Killer Diller radio show last week and played a bunch of punk from the last 40 or so years. Here are the bands from the show...

Look, I know I was whining about the date, but how many T-shirt hot days do you normally get in Norf Lahnden in February? One benefit of being sat behind a pasting table in a bike park for six hours is you get to see...All the comings...And goings...Reino from TriCo/ The Great Frog and James from Kingdom of KicksConrad Leach turned up with his friend on matching Ducati tiddlers. A brilliant way to come out of the closet.

Stunning C&J framed Buell.Signwriting by Ornamental Conifer.Co-Built flanking demon racer (and soon to be Sideburn cover star) Tim Neave.The Vintagent.Chief Corpse From Hell, Maxwell P on his BSA from Sideburn 9.Every photo I took had a at least one misshapen man in a black jacket in the background. I asked this lady if she wouldn't mind helping me prove that's not all a British bike meeting is about.Nico from Ornamental Conifer. He did the great signwriting on our Enfield.

Dave the courier was selling this amazing R1 special in a one-off Steelheart frame. £6000 ono. He's been distracted by a hardtail race-tuned R1 chop. UK Short track 2011 novice champion, Stuart L, turned up on his rascal of a Sportster.Photographer Sam Christmas and his Speed Four.Swamp Rat!Reilly Rocket crew.Red Max had a big display of road and race bikes.Including this AJS 125 project he's been collaborating on.Always good to see a Sideburn Zombie.This is Guy's BMW. He's racing it in Dirt Quake's inappropriate road bike class. It's filling up fast.Nick's fantastic Cheney Triumph. Says he's racing this at Dirt Quake too.

Drogo's finished Co-Built racer.

Obviously it wasn't all street trackers, more an excuse of the gathering of the tribes. Thanks to everyone who came down, especially if you bought something. G